Seat Updates????

[mattiesettlement]

Comments welcome from all the aftermarket seat owners. Any updates? Are you glad you bought the seat etc... I've noticed that some of you first went with a Corbin and then with a Sargent. Are you happy with your seat purchase in other words. Thanks!! :04biker:

[toad]

I have a sargent on the way...when I get it...and get some time on it...I will report back.

[NormanPCN]

If you have the "flat boney butt" syndrome the Sargent seat may not be a good way to go unless you give it a tweak or two. Yes, I have the boney butt syndrome. I talked to the Custom seat guy at Sargent, Bill, and he said they start to see the "boney butt" issues show up on people around 175lbs and higher. I am 215lbs, 6'4.5". This all comes up because the Sargent seat has firm foam and little if any shape (like a dish). The heavier you are, the more pressure your sit bones are under and the more compensation necessary.

In all other ways the Sargent is superior.

The seat position is neutral. No tilt of the pelvis and thus no sliding forward and reduced pressure on your hands. A pelvic tilt makes your shoulders want to rotate and thus puts pressure on your hands. Note that I am comparing this, not to the stock seat which has a big tilt, but to an aftermarket Rocky Mayer seat which is pretty neutral already (I made him redo it). This was a small difference. I took side photos on a tripod and overlayed them in Photoshop to compre body position between the two seats. With my height it seems even small changes help this this situation.

The neutral position is also very good on the lower back after long rides.

The seat position seems to be a hair higher than stock.

Both the rear and front seatpans are wider. The rear seat is way superior to the stock seat. The rear seat has a slight dish to it. With my boney butt I am more comfortable on the rear than the quite flat front. The front does have some shape but mostly near the edges of the pan and therefore you need a pretty wide arse to get any use of the shape.

Being a sport style seat you can move around on the seat. Specifically forward if you are so inclined to put more weight on the front tire. All out touring seats basically lock you into a position.

[Fireball18]

Norman,

What does the guy from Sargent recommend for "tweaking" the seat if you happen to be one of those 175#+ people? (I'm 230) Or do you have an idea for making an adjustment? I had thought of taking my Sargent, assuming it doesn't sell, to a local guy who does motorcycle seats and having him add a layer of memory foam on top of the stock foam, but under the seat cover.

[BikemanKZ]

I had a Corbin on my ST1100, I have a Sargent with about 4000 miles on the 1300. I much prefer the Sargent for comfort and looks.(also has storage under both sections) I am 6'4" and 205#
BikemanKZ

[NormanPCN]

What does the guy from Sargent recommend for "tweaking" the seat if you happen to be one of those 175#+ people? (I'm 230) Or do you have an idea for making an adjustment?

The discussion was related to my situation, a flat boney butt and weighing well above average. I got the impression that all else being equal those without boney butts have less issues with any given seat.

The tweaking discussed was adding some shape to the seat and possibly changing the foam density/type under the sit bones, or both. As a simple test to find an approximate amount of relief your sit bones need he suggested I put some tape on the seat cover, mark my pressure points and tape folded hand towels to the seat leaving a depression in the middle where my sit bones exist. Then go for a ride.

If you want to put tempur foam in your seat, I would not put it over the whole seat. Only put it under you pressure points. A smaller rectangle. Cut a hole in the seat foam to place the tempur foam. Doing this gives your sit bones the memory foam, and they will sink into that, and the rest of your arse will be supported but the firmer seat foam. Also doing this the existing cover will fit.

[NormanPCN]

I should also mention that I am in the middle of my 30 day refund period on the Sargent. Given that the seat gave me an unexpected benefit for my palms and lower back, and I cannot figure out why this is that case. I might decide to keep the seat and tweak to make my sit bones happy. The latter has obvious steps to take.

[Fireball18]

Norman,

Based on my wife's observations of my posterior, I suspect you and I share a similar anatomy and problem with the butt bones feeling more pressure than usual. In all other aspects, the Sargent is a great seat.

[NormanPCN]

Ahh, a simple answer to a complex question. Cool. ;)

[alan]

I was finally able to get in a long ride today on my new Sargent seat. I was out for three hours and put on 133 miles in the Irish Hills area of southern Michigan. I found the seat comfortable and I was not squirming around very much. The stock seat after three hours would have been quite painfull. I have the Sargent mounted in the high setting just like the stock seat was and the wider Sargent has me tiptoeing to touch the ground, the stock seat allowed me to pretty much flat foot it at stops.

So I am pleased with the Sargent seat, but will have to try it in a lower setting. :) :03biker: